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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The University of Utah will allow a student concerned about its research involving animals to review more than 100 pages of documentation, for nearly $300.
Jeremy Beckham, an 18-year-old freshman at the university and an animal-rights activist, successfully argued to the state Records Committee last month that he should be allowed to examine the protocols used in the school's animal research.
The panel told the university to hand over the records minus confidential information that could jeopardize the safety of scientists and the proprietary nature of their work. The committee left it to the university to decide what information to withhold and how much Beckham should pay for the work in providing the documents.
The university's office of general counsel responded to the committee's order Friday. University attorney Phyllis J. Vetter wrote Beckham spelling out the conditions under which he could receive the redacted records.
The following itemization is made in the note, a copy of which Beckham provided to the Deseret Morning News:
-- "Legal Review: $137.35 (3.25 hrs at $42.26 per hr.)
-- "Technical Review: $126.67 (1.50 hrs at 54.41 per hr. and 1.50 hrs at $30.03 per hr.)
-- "Physical Redaction: $35.06 (4.25 hrs at $8.25 per hr.)
-- "The total charge for these records will be $299.08."
In addition, the university wants to charge Beckham for the two pages of information he already received.
Vetter wrote, "The charge for the copies sent to you on Jan. 27, 2004, was $.50 (2 pages at $.25 per page). "Please add that amount to your check."
Beckham said the charges are ridiculous. "I think it is just another way to keep these records out of my hands," he said, adding the university may succeed.
"I simply don't have $300 to spare. I'm an unemployed college student right now."
Beckham said he was seeking advice from an American Civil Liberties Union attorney on reducing the fee. Meanwhile, he intended to petition the university to have the fee waived or reduced.
University spokeswoman Coralie Alder said the state Records Committee "agreed we had the right to charge for the direct costs." The university did what it could to keep the amount low, she said, including using its in-house legal staff rather than an outside attorney.
"There was some cost to get that information prepared, and we're seeking some reimbursement," Alder said.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
